Remembering Julie Magers Soulen

We are very sad to have learned that photographer Julie Magers Soulen, who was such a vibrant and active supporter of the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace, has passed from this lifetime. 

Her vibrant, positive spirit and beautiful Colorado photography was a very important and active part of our blog and Facebook page, and will be missed very much. 

I feel very fortunate to have (cyber) connected with Julie during this lifetime.  She was a regular contributor with us since our days at 1000 Markets. 

I was also very happy to have interviewed her for our Artist Series. 

Julie's energy will continue to live on through her stunning nature photography, and I'm sure her bright light will stay with us all - shinning strong, and illuminating our paths forward.

We love you Julie! {{big hug and kisses}}
diane

   "Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park" courtesy of Julie Magers Soulen

The photograph, one of my favorites, originally was used in our
article on Earth Day in 2011.

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Silence on the Spiritual Path

There is no denying, it has been a long and difficult winter for many of us this year.  

As with anything else in life however, we do have a choice how

we handle it. 

Try to embrace the natural quiet and silence that winter brings into our 
lives instead of becoming frustrated.

As pointed out through the words from Taoist author Deng Ming - Dao,

silence is actually a very 
important aspect to our spiritual development.  

As one progresses on the path, one seeks silence more and more.

It will be a great comfort, a tremendous source of solace and peace.

Once you find deep solitude and calm, there will be a great gladness in your heart.

Here finally is the place where you need neither defense or offense - 

the place where you can truly be open.

There will be bliss, wonder, the awe of attaining something pure and sacred.

After that, you will feel adoration of silence.

this is the peace that seems to elude so many.

This is the beauty of the Tao.

"Snowy Crossing" courtesy of Jude McConkey Photography.  

Prints available through her shop on Etsy.

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2014 Year of the Wood Horse

Chinese astrology is considered to be one of the world's oldest forms of Astrology.  Unlike the other Moon-school traditions; Tibetan, Vedic and Judaic, which are couched in religion, Chinese astrology is purely secular, a direction shared by Sun-school astrologies (Western and Arabian).

Ming Shu (Circle of Animals), is just one form of Chinese astrology, but it seems to be the one that is most commonly recognized by westerners.  This system is what Sun signs are to Western astrology, meaning, you only have to know the year of your birth to create a general personality profile.  Like all of the world's major astrological traditions however, a person's time, date and place of birth are essential to create an accurate, true birth chart.

2014 is the year of the wood Horse (ma), and people born between February 3, 1954 and January 23 1955 are members of the Wood Horse Zodiac Sign.

Although there are general behavioral patterns associated with the Horse (ma) sign, the delineation is further augmented according to which element (earth, metal, fire, water, wood) happens to be in control the year that you are born.  For example, the personality of a fire horse is very different from that of a wood horse etc.  So, just because you are a Horse (ma) in Chinese astrology does not mean that this is your year.

In general, the horse (ma) is a symbol of masculinity.  A ma person is lively, passionate, quick tempered and very impatient.  This person needs to always be the center of attention and is often quite egotistical.  Brilliance, wit and elegance makes this person attractive to others, but he or she may lack intellectual depth.  Horse people do well in groups, and thrive on social contact.  They often form close relationships and will give up anything for romance, although romantic love is not a priority for them. The ma is also naturally talented at making the best of any opportunity presented.  The Year of the Horse is often marked by an increase in business and commercial activity.  Households should make sure they do not over spend their budget during a horse year.

The wood-hsing ma is self-disciplined and systematic, but resists domination.  This person is always will to try unconventional methods.  He or she likes to start new projects, but often has difficulty concentrating on the projects at hand or completing their responsibilities.

2014 is associated with the Horse (ma), the color green, and the element wood.



*Information for this post was taken from Miller and Brown's "The Complete Astrological Handbook for the Twenty-first Century"; Understanding and Combining the Wisdom of Chinese, Tibetan, Vedic, Arabian, Judaic, and Western Astrology.  Also, Qi Journal.

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Pizza - Gluten Free or Not, Your Choice

When I was growing up, Saturday night was pizza night.  My mom would begin making the tomato sauce early in the morning and let it simmer all day.  She would start the dough in the afternoon, letting it rise at a nice easy pace, then punch it down and let it rise again.  In the early evening she would roll out the dough very, very thin, put it in a round pizza pan, top it with the sauce, some mozzarella cheese and sometimes some ground beef or sausage.  The oregano would go on last.  My mom would bake her pizza it until it was very crispy.  It was so delicious, it honestly was to die for.  Everyone who tasted it was hooked.

Later on when I became older and met my husband, he too fell totally in love with my mom's pizza.  He began making it for us when we got married, using her her original recipe.  He was fascinated with the dough process and how also thin he could roll it and how crispy he could make it.  Our sauce, unfortunately, was never quite the same as my mother's.  It's probably because I did not can fresh tomatoes like she did, so I never could replicate that deep rich taste.  

Eventually we did create a substitute.

A few years ago when our household became gluten free, the pizza was one of the first things that had to go.  We missed it, the kids missed it, and even though we dutifully tried just about every gluten free crust and dough recipe, the pizzas were just never the same.

  The crusts were just too thick, and over all tasted pretty icky.

One day my husband came across my mom's dough recipe and decided he would try to make it exactly as written, only substituting gluten free flour.  No other additions or adjustments.  We had a feeling it might actually work because we were going to use the Cup 4 Cup Gluten Free Flour, which I think is the closest replication on the market to regular white or unbleached wheat flour for baking.

The big difference you'll find when using the Cup 4 Cup GF Flour compared to others is that it's so light.  So many GF flour blends that are used for baking, even by some of the most popular gluten free bakeries, are just way too heavy to be used for a lighter baked good.  The Cup 4 Cup GF flour is primarily a very light rice flour and you use as it is - literally substitute it cup for cup in any type of recipe.  No other additions are required.

As requested by friends, below is my mom's dough recipe. 

You'll have to work your own magic for the rest of the pizza.

Gluten free or not gluten free, enjoy!

This recipe will make 2 pizzas.

Pizza Dough

2 1/4 c. flour

3/4 c milk

1 Tb. sugar

1 pkg yeast

2 Tb. oil

1 tsp salt

Dissolve yeast in 1/4 c lukewarm water.  Scald milk, add oil, sugar and salt to milk.

When lukewarm add dissolved yeast and mix.

Put part of flour in milk and mix really well.

Then add the rest of the flour.

Grease top of dough and cover.

Let rise up to 1 1/2 hours.

Roll dough out very thin. 

Transfer to greased cookie sheet.

Add sauce and toppings.

Bake 15 - 20 minutes

Notes: If you use GF flour, your dough will not rise very much.  It also will not have the elasticity when you roll it out, so it may take some finesse on your part to learn how to manipulate it.

In addition, they do sell a Cup 4 Cup Pizza Crust Mix.  It think it's less expensive however, to buy a bag of the flour and make the dough recipe.

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What is Wisdom?

 "To be wise means being thoroughly familiar with all aspects of human duality 
and to apply mastery of these aspects in all our relationships.  

Wise is the one who always shows the way to follow without ever 
imposing it and who never does for others that which they are always well 
advised to do for themselves.  

Wise are also those who know who to be silent when they should just listen,
 and to speak when they can and must be heard.  

The true wise person is not the one who is favorably spoken of because of his or 
her actions.  
From all the foregoing, it follows that true wisdom always listen more than it talks, much 
less that it acts, and never acts without thinking ahead.

To show wisdom does not mean to want to absolutely reform the evil we 
believe we see in others, 
but to harmonize with the good that we are certain 
to perceive within them.  

Broadly speaking, the mission of wisdom is to preserve harmony where it exists
 and 
to do everything

possible to put it where it is not."  

~ Christian Barnard

Daisy Photograph Courtesy of Jude McConkery.
Prints available through her shop on Etsy.

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Time - Welcome to 2014

If you stop and think about it, during the last two days a large majority of people on this plant have been preoccupied with the concept of time.  Saying goodbye to a period of time - New Years Eve - and welcoming in a new conceptualized period of time - 2014.

I was recently looking through a stack of very old books from my Grandmother's library and I found a well worn, 1939 edition of The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.  

A 75 year old book - wow - although the book was first published
 in 1923 and continues to
be one of the best selling books of all time.

I loved Gibran's words concerning time, and thought I would share 

them with you to begin this new year.  

Hope yours is a good one

 

                                         ~ diane fergurson

And an astronomer said, Master, what of Time? 

And he answered:

You would measure time the measureless and 

the immeasurable.

You would adjust your conduct and even direct 

the course of your spirit according to hours 

and seasons. 

Of time you would make a stream upon whose

bank you would sit and watch its flowing.

Yet, the timeless in you is aware of timelessness,

And knows that yesterday is but today's

memory and tomorrow is today's dream.

And that which sings and contemplates

in you is still swelling with the bounds of that 

first moment which scattered the stars into

space.

Who among you does not feel that his power 

to love is boundless?

And yet who does not feel that very love,

through boundless, encompassed within the 

center of his being, not moving from love

thought to love through, nor from love deeds to

other love deeds?

And is not time even as love is, undivided and

paceless?

But if in your thought you must measure 

time into seasons, let each season encircle all the

other seasons,

And let today embrace the past with remembrance

and the future with longing.

Photo by diane fergurson

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Mind Body Spirit Odyssey 2013 Holiday Gift Picks

The Holiday Season has arrived, and once again Diane Fergurson and Abby Horowitz have put together some of their favorite Mind Body Spirit related items that they have found online.  This is the 4th year that the Mind Body Spirit Odyssey has featured this list, and every year it's popularity continues to grow. Some of the products that are featured may be familiar to you because they were previously featured on the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace Facebook Page, which is updated with new items everyday.  Others are Diane and Abby's personal favorites.  Some of the products are handcrafted and available from independent shop owners, others are traditionally manufactured and sold through online retail sites.

For additional gift ideas, you might want to revisit the  2012 Gift Picks List, and even go back and look at the 2011 Holiday Gift Pick List, and 2010  selections.

There is lot to look at and enjoy!  You will definitely find something for everyone on your list - and even for yourself!

Hope your Holiday Season is a healthy and happy one.  Stay positive and thank you for following The Mind Body Spirit Marketplace Facebook Page, Twitter, and Pinterest page.  Also for supporting and following this blog.  
(Oh, and don't forget to tell your friends about us -  spread the word!)

  
Gift ideas from Abby :

Connie, the creator of Eco Chic Soaps says that OH! Christmas Tree Handmade Soap smells just like the forest did when you were a kid chopping down that Christmas tree with your folks - piney, brisk and fresh. It's a fantastic "woodsy" scent; the pine notes really come out in the soap, making it a "must have" for the Holiday Season! Her shop is filled with wonderful gifts for the season! 

This handmade wire wrapped necklace features three rough-cut clear quartz crystals ranging in size from 1.12 to 1.25 inches, accompanied by silver moon and sun charms on hanging chains.  The perfect gift for your favorite Christmas Angel!  ArianaSierz creates a wonderful array of talismans, necklaces, and earrings featuring angels, fairies, deities, day of the dead, crystals and minerals. Seventeen year old Ariana has late stage Lyme Disease and the money she earns from her shop helps with the cost of her treatments.

 

HeidiLane created this lovely Gratitude Candle to create a sacred space to celebrate the holiday season, meditate, pray or simply sit in silence as you thank your creator for the gift of love and life. She hand rolls each candle upon ordering and lightly anoints each sheet of pure beeswax with her own anointing and blessing oil. Each candle has 1 mini clear quartz crystal tucked in the base that has been set with the intention of Gratitude and Giving Thanks to our Creator. Each beautiful crystal has been charged under the Full Moon and basked in the rays of the Summer Sun. Her shop is filled with wonderful gifts!

Julia Pasichnyck makes colorful environmentallyfriendly baby toys. This braided toy of wooden beech and juniper beads and organic cotton thread is the perfect gift for the special little one in your life!  She says that this interesting accessory helps your child to see and distinguish colors and develop fine motor skills. This toy is made entirely from natural materials in the Carpathian Mountains!

Lauren Gray’s shop was born of her love of woodworking, crystals, and minerals. She offers Crystal and Mineral Curio Sets as well as art prints, sage, and beautiful examples of her woodworking.

The smoke of white sage has been used for centuries as a natural incense and for smudging purposes. It is a great way to cleanse your home, your work space and of course your crystals and minerals of negative energy.

Robert from Belfast, Northern Ireland creates these lovely hand made Dreamcatchers.  You can choose one from his shop or have one created especially for you. Choose your favorite colors for web, trim, beads & feathers. A great gift to keep those bad dreams at bay!

 

When I found KV’s shop, I knew it was very special.  She tells us that it is her soul's purpose to bring us tools that help us to stay grounded during these shifting times as we move into a new epoch. She has created several items that help us to remember who we really are so that we can take charge of our life and truly BE the master co-creator we are so that we can set our dreams into motion. She offers custom Birth Chart Books up to 80 pages!  I know I’ll be ordering several of these.  Check out her wonderful shop!

Are you or someone you know struggling with expressing their creativity? This is an amazing gift for anyone who has wanted to draw, paint, write, or compose music. The Artist’s Way helps you to find the artist within through a 12-week program that takes you on a journey of discovery.  The seeker will learn how to unlock their hidden creativity, break through blocks, and how to connect with the energies of the universe. 

Kat O'Sullivan’s sells the most amazing Sweater Coats and lucky for us she also offers instructions on how to create your own!  What a perfect gift for someone who loves to sew and has lots of old well loved sweaters just waiting to be given a new life!  Check out her shop and see for yourself!  A wildly colorful Sweater Coat just may be in your future or someone you gift with her wonderful Guide to Sweater Coats!

Oriana Rodman’s SantaFeOrnaments Shop on Etsy is filled with enchanting examples of her colorful artwork that is inspired by the diverse cultures of her beloved SantaFe. The ornaments feature sacred hearts, retablos, owls & hawks, milagros, birds & hawks.  Stop by her shop and get lost in her imagination!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gift ideas from Diane








                                                                             

Silver and Earth creates a gorgeous line of earthy, organic jewelry which combines natural elements with natural gemstones, fossils, and exotic beads.  Featured is a stunning Red Jasper and Silver Pendant - one of may gorgeous pieces in their shop on Etsy.  #SilverandEarth is also one of the original sellers in the Mind Body Spirit Marketplace when it was located on 1000 Markets.  I love how their work has evolved over the last few years.  so lovely ~

When we spotlighted The Yoga Poster earlier this year in our Marketplace on FaceBook, it was easily one of our most popular features.  The poster is a visual guide to the practice of yoga...and I can't think of a nicer, affordable gift to give someone who is really into their practice.
#TheYogaPoster can be purchased on Etsy.

I originally purchased Stones of the New Consciousness by Robert Simmons at a gem and mineral show earlier this year, but was surprised when I found out the other day that my local New Age Shop also had numerous copies in stock.  This book is not a lightweight intro reading guide.  It is a thorough, in-depth guide to sixty-two of the most important stones for awakening and healing, while exploring the attunement relationship between man and mineral.  Definitely a good gift idea for anyone interested in expanding their knowledge base on gems, minerals, crystals and healing. 


Also - if you have not checked out our intro series, Gemstones of the Zodiac, here is a link that will get you there.

I know what you're thinking....
Really??
I had my doubts too, but honestly, this is probably one of the best cookbooks to be released recently containing recipes for healthy, natural, clean eating.  This book has become a go-to both in my household for sure, especially since it contains recipes that are both gluten-free and vegetarian (although there are plenty of meat and fish dishes too).  Everything our family has cooked from this book has been wonderful.  Doesn't get any better then that!
Good job Gweneth!
Available on Amazon.

This is one of cutest kids' toys I've seen in quite awhile.  My First Buddha is one of several great items in Dharma Crafts' Children's Collection which is available on their website.  A portion of the proceeds from the purchase of My First Buddha goes to Save the Children, the world's largest child protection organization.

Lavender Cottage on Etsy is another former 1000 Markets shop that we had the pleasure to re-connect with earlier this year.  Sterling sliver artisan jewelry that is made by hand - the pieces reflecting love of the natural world around us.  Featured is their gorgeous Bee Ring, one of many stunning choices in this beautiful shop.

Colorado photographer Julie Magers Soulen is known for her stunning shots of the natural world.  Putting these images on to cards however, has given them a whole different life.  This gorgeous butterfly card set astounds me every time I see it.  One of many beautiful card sets available through her shop on Etsy.  A lovely gift for someone special! 

Another of our features which gained quite a bit of attention earlier this year, was the stunning, hand painted scarfs from Australian artist  #Shovava on Etsy.  A wonderfully unique gift that is definitely reasonably priced.  Many different wing and bird styles are available. Just gorgeous ~ 

Continuing forward with the winged theme...
Kino Lorber is releasing the DVD version of the very interesting and informative documentary More Than Honey in a few weeks.
It's available for pre-order from Amazon, or you can purchase it as a download.  The film profiles the current decimation of bees and beehives that is spreading globally.  50% to 90% of all local beehives have disappeared.  A very education and timely film...  Narrated by John Hurt.

In addition, last year as one of our Gift Picks, you may remember we featured a beautiful screen printed Bee Mandala Shirt by astrolaboratory on Etsy.  Part of the proceeds from that shirt go to the North American Pollinator Project.  Definitely worth checking out again ~

The Hermetic Tarot was originally released by US Games in 1979, and was brought back by popular demand.  I ran across the deck during my travels this summer, and was absolutely knocked over by the amazing black and white illustrations (by Godfrey Dowson) and also the powerful symbolism depicted.  This deck is a great addition to anyone's tarot deck collection.  Some people collect decks to use to use for divination, other people collect for the artwork.  Whichever you are interested in, this one is a must.  Very powerful deck ~  Available on Amazon.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~



Thank you to our blog contributors this year:

 

Galleira di Giani

Jude McConkey Photography

Karen Casey-Smith

Salt Springs Malas

Adam Fergurson

Darren Orr

Abby Horowitz Designs

Diane Fergurson

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Mind Body Spirit Book Review: The Dharma Feast Cookbook - Recipes For A Fresh Start

Dharma Feast Cookbook - Recipes For A Fresh Start
by Theresa Rogers and Tika Altemoller
Published by Kalindi Press 

Reviewed by Diane Fergurson


The Dharma Feast Cookbook - Recipes For a Fresh Start, is definitely the kind of cookbook that you are going to want to own because chances are you are going to find yourself using it all the time.  In fact, after briefly looking over the PDF for the book that I was sent for review earlier this year, I promptly placed an ordered to Amazon for a physical copy to keep in my kitchen. Clean, was the word that kept coming into my head. Clean flavors, healthy and fresh food.  Something we can all benefit from.


As you look through the book you will notice that the premise for the book draws off the best of the nutritional ideas put forth through traditional diet, vegetarian cooking, macrobiotics, and raw food cooking and acid/alkaline ph considerations.  There is a section of the book which offers a step by step guideline to help eliminate unhealthy eating habits.

This book is the perfect addition to anyone's cookbook collection, and it is especially a nice, affordable addition or gift for anyone who is vegetarian.  I was going to add this book to our Holiday Gift Picks list, but I've honestly enjoyed it so much I decided to give it a separate review.

Below is one of my standing favorites from the book...a great Tabouleh recipe using quinoa.
This is also perfect for the person, like me, who loves Tabouleh but is also gluten free.

enjoy!

~ diane

Link to the book on Amazon.

Quinoa Tabouleh

5 cups quinoa

10 cups water

1 bunch parsley, chopped very fine

1 red onion, chopped very fine

3 red bell peppers, chopped very fine

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cook quinoa.  Set aside.  It should be fluffy.  If it's mushy use less water next time.

Combine vegetables in bowl.  Mix lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.  Pour over vegetable mixture and stir.  Let sit 1 hour.

Mix marinated vegetables with cooled quinoa.  Add more olive oil and lemon juice to taste.

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The Artist Awakens

Dispersing New Flavor by Adam Fergurson

The artist knows, up to a point, what he or she wishes to express but also feels it, senses it - feels and senses it so strongly that something like awakening has occurred.  The ordinary self that entered the studio is still there, but there is someone else in there as well.

...The theme, the task at hand, is clear and unclear.  The mind may conceive it precisely or, on the contrary, feelings and the body in motion may have a sense of direction that the mind hardly knows.  The forces must come together to serve the theme:  the sheer energy and closeness to materials dwelling in the body, the sensitivity to small differences dwelling in the feelings, the organizational clarity and the critical capacity of the thought.

...Entering more deeply into the creative process, the artist begins to receive spontaneous gifts; signs and meanings suggest themselves "from nowhere" - forms previously unimagined, new themes or motifs that seem remarkably fertile.  The working faculties and the companion self have come to life, shedding seeds with abandon and generosity....A degree of spontaneous ability has made itself known, always a gift however one reaches for it.

  ~  Roger Lipsey, from the book

"An Artist's Book of Inspiration"

Compiled and Edited by Astrid Fitzgerald



Artwork courtesy of Adam Fergurson

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Angel Unaware

You’ve been an angel more times than you know.

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  ~ Leo F. Buscaglia

Close in Heart

Let me explain why I call you an angel unaware, and why I believe that I get to be one now and then too.

Have you had someone call you just when you needed a friendly voice, had a stranger simply smile or say something kind when you’d had a hard day, or someone slow up to let you in front of them in traffic? Have you received an email that contained helpful information that you needed, a handwritten note, or caring message, that lifted you up? And then, perhaps it was you who made the call, or smiled, or sent the message.

I’m sure you can think of many kindnesses, and many ways they can arrive. Maybe you think of them as random acts of kindness, which is lovely, though I believe there’s more than that going on. It’s not random at all.

The reason I call you an angel is because one of the meanings of angel is divine messenger.

Informal angels are all around. Contact with them is always positive. Being this kind of angel is a casual position, on an as needed basis. Sometimes others are angels for us, and sometimes we get to be the angels; both are a gift, and a joy.

When you get to be the angel, you may not be consciously aware, especially at the time, that you’ve had this honor. You might notice on those occasions that you do find out how much what you did meant to another person, that it felt like you really did nothing extraordinary, in that it was effortless and done lightly, a spontaneous expression of the peace, joy, and love you were experiencing within.

When you’re feeling loved, you’re naturally loving, and in this state, you’re also in tune with the Divine. If you are the nearest tuned in person, to the one who needs the message, then you have the opportunity to deliver it. It’s that simple.

So tune in first, then heed those gentle promptings, make that call, say those kind words that just now came to mind, to your friend, or that someone you haven’t been introduced to. Being in tune with the Divine is a wonderful place to be anyway, and then too, you have the delightful privilege of being available to be an angel.

It’s a brilliant delivery system!

Angels can fly because they take themselves lightly.  ~ Scottish saying

En Pointe

Thank you, thank you, to all you angels. Never underestimate those seemingly small acts of kindness; they really do make a positive difference. Please appreciate yourself, just as much as you appreciate each angel in your own life. ♥

~ Karen Casey-Smith 

Thank you to Karen Casey-Smith for sharing this beautiful post with our blog.

Karen's lovely photography can be found in her shop on Etsy.

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Healing With Gemstones - Getting to Know Aquamarine

Welcome to this month’s installment of Healing with Gemstones.  This month, we will take a look at the beautiful stone Aquamarine.

Aquamarine is an Astrological birthstone for Scorpio as well as the October birthstone in Arabic, Hebrew, Polish and Roman cultures.

Aquamarine Origin

Aquamarine takes its name from the Latin words “aqua” (water) and “marina” (of the sea).  It is from the beryl family (which included emeralds and morganite).  It ranges from a blue-green color to a pale blue.  The clear, almost colorless blue are the most sought after and valuable of the aquamarine stones.

Aquamarine stones are found in many places, such as Russia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Madagascar.  The most valuable aquamarine stones come from Brazil.

Aquamarine History

In Ancient Rome, an aquamarine was given as a gift from the groom to the bride the morning after the marriage was consummated.  It was  believed to absorb the energy of young love.  The Roman legend stated “When blessed and worn, it joins in love, and does great things.”  They would also carve a frog into the stone because they believed it would help reconcile relationships, and turn enemies into friends. 

Because its name was derived from the sea, it was often gifted to, and worn by, sailors, who believed it would help them traverse the deep waters safely.  Roman soldiers would also wear it in battle, as they believed it would make them invincible and bring them victory.

The Hebrew, Egyptian and Sumerian people all looked to the stone as a symbol of happiness and everlasting youth. 

In the late 14th Century, the stone was thought to be a good antidote to poison.  Since poisoning monarchs was a common practice in those days, many of them took to wearing aquamarine.  Unlike other times in the past, when the practice would be to crush and ingest a stone to get its full power, the belief was that just wearing this stone would be enough to protect you.

The Ancient Roman belief that the stone absorbed the energy of young love was carried through to the Middle Ages.  Married couples would gift the stone to each other to help them rekindle their earlier passions.

During this time, the stone was also used in crystal balls, as the clarity of the stone was thought to help with the clarity of vision.  Famous mystic John Dee used an aquamarine crystal ball to help Queen Elizabeth I look into the future and decide the perfect date for her coronation.  

A secondary divination method was used during this time as well.  A pointed stone would be suspended on a thread and held over a bowl of water, with the tip of the stone barely touching the water.  Inside the bowl, around the edge, there were letters of the alphabet.  Questions were asked, and, as the stone moved throughout the bowl from one letter to another, it would spell out the answers.  In that way, it acted as the ouija board of its time.

Ancient Healing Properties

According to ancient folklore, in addition to the beliefs already mentioned, aquamarine was also thought to assist in the treatment of yawning, belching, and in curing ailments to the stomach, liver, throat, jaws, and even toothaches.

Because its name is a connection to water and the sea, it was also used in rituals to either bring rain, or, for malevolent purposes, to help cause drought to your enemies.

As it was used often in divination, it is also thought to help people clear their perceptions and sharpen their intuition, as well as help them with their own clairvoyance.  This makes it a great stone for meditation.

Charging Your Aquamarine

If you are bringing an aquamarine crystal home for the first time, you will want to clean it of all the energy it had absorbed up to that point.  There are two ways to do this.  One would be to hold it under running water.  If there is a point on the stone, hold the point towards the running water.  Do this until you feel the energy change.  If you are unsure what that feels like, you can also soak it in sea salt for 24 hours, so that the salt has a chance to draw out the energy.

As it is a stone connected with the sea, you can also charge it by leaving it out in the rain for 6 hours, and let it heal and recharge naturally.

Once that is done, you should finish the charge by carrying or wearing the stone, so that it tunes to your personal energy.

Aquamarine Jewelry

Although it is not a stone that I use often, I do have a few pieces made with aquamarine. 

For lovers of bold, chunky pieces, I have this great piece made from faceted aquamarine rondelles and round amethyst:

Amethyst and Aquamarine Necklace

For those who love a cleaner, more delicate look, I also have a set made with aquamarine and cultured freshwater pearls:

Aquamarine and Pearl Set

I think you would agree with the philosopher Pliny, who was a fan of this stone.  He once said “The lovely aquamarine, which seems to have come from some mermaid’s treasure house, in the depths of a summer sea, has charms not to be denied.”

Cleanse and Purify Your Stones

For information on how to cleanse your stones, see this  article published recently here on Mind Body Spirit Odyssey.


Thank you Giani!

You can read Giani's Tarot reviews in the Review section of this blog.

This is the first article in this wonderful series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more

 in the upcoming months!  I thank Giani

 for his wonderful continued contributions to Mind Body Spirit Odyssey. 

The beautiful jewelry pictured above can be found in Giani's website and on CraftStar.

                                                                                  

 ~ diane

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